Willow



Dea. 3, 1929.

c. scHor-'IELD 1,738,396

' wILLow 'FiledfOoL 14, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Dec. 3, 1929. Q SCHUHE-LD v 1,738,396

WILLOW Filed oct. 14, 19? s sheets-sheet 2 D@n 3, 1929. C, SCHQFELD 1',73s,396

WILLOW Filed 0G12. 14, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Dec. 3, 1929 UNITED STATES CHARLES SCHOEIELI), F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA r WILLOW Application filed October 14, 1927. Serial No. 226,176.

This invention relates to willows of the type shown and described in my prior United States Letters Patent Number 675,248 dated May 28, 1901, Number 772,881 dated Cctober 18, 1904 and Number 825,159 dated July 5, 1906, and consists of certain improvements in the structural details `of the machine and other improvements which enables the ma chine to produce a finer product, facilitates the cleaning of the material subjected to the action of the machine and prevents the dust which is removed from the material form escaping from the machine during the beating and cleaning operation.

The improved construction of the machine and the objects of the invention will be fully disclosed hereinafter, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, of which:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional elevation 2o of a willow constructed in accordance with my invention;

Figs. 2 and 8 are elevations of the respective sides of the machine;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken von the line 4 4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of a detail of the invention;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of a detail of the invention;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of one of the improved teeth employed in the machine; and

Fig. 8 is a sectional view of a modified form of one detail of the invention.

The machine known as a willow consists of a casing 1, having appropriate bearings for a transverse shaft 2, upon which is mounted a drum 8, consisting of a series of hollow arms having projecting teeth 4 at their outer ends, which cooperate `with fixed teeth 5 and perforated or slotted segmental screens or gratings 6 and 7 to open or loosen up, beat, and remove thedust or dirt from masses of fibrous materialfsubjected to the action of the machine.

The machine is providedwith a pair of feedrolls 9 and 10, a conveyor belt 11, and a pivoted discharge door or gate 12 adapted to close a discharge opening formed at the bottom of the casing 1, through which the cleaned and separated mass of fibers can be removed. f

The shaft 2 has the usual driving pulley 18 for receiving a driving belt, and a pulley 17 which receives abelt 18, the latter passing around and driving a pulley 19 secured to one end of a transverse shaft 2O which is rotatably mounted in suitable bearings ontop of the casing 1. On the opposite end of the shaft 2O is secured a pinion 21 which meshes with 'a gear wheel 22 secured to a short shaft 28 rotatably mounted in a bearing formed on the end of abracket 14 which is secured to the frame of the machine.` On the shaft 28 is also secured a pinion 24 which meshes with a continuous set of teeth 25 formed on the peripheral face of a wheel 26. On the said peripheral face of the wheel 26 is formed a second and intermittent set of teeth 27 which alternate with plain untoothed por tions 28 formed on the face of the wheel 26. The Wheel 26 is rotatably mounted on a short shaft 29 carried by a bracket 8O secured to the frame of the machine.

A transverse shaft 81 is rotatably mounted in brackets mounted on the top of the casing 1, and is provided at one end with an intermittent gear wheel 82, the teeth of which are adapted to mesh with the teeth 27 on the wheel 26 and a non-toothed portion 88 on the wheei 82 is-adapted to engage vthe plain portion 28 of the peripheral face of the wheel 26. whereby the shaft 81 receives intermittent rotation On the opposite end of the shaft 81 is secured a sprocket wheel 84.` around which sprocket chain 35 passes. The sprocket chain 85 also passes around a sprocket wheel 86 secured to a shaft 87 which supports and rotates the lower feed roll 10. The upper feed `roll9 is driven from theshaft 87 in the' usual manner by gears 88 and 89. The conveyer belt 11 is driven from the shaft 40, which supports the roll 9, by means of sprockets 41 and 42 and an operating sprocket chain 48. y

Obviously when the wheel 26`is rotated and the teeth 27 thereof engage the teeth of the gear 82 on the shaft 81 the feed rolls 9 and 10 and the conveyer belt 11 are operated to feed the fibers into the casing 1 in the usual manner, and when the untoothed portion 88 of the gear 82 isn engagement with the plain untoothed portion 28 of the Wheel 26 the rolls 9 and 10 and conveyer 11 remain idle.

In the top of the casing 1 is the usual pivoted air valve 55 having a laterally extending lug 54, through which passes one end of a rod 53 having a collar 53a thereon and in engagement with the underside of the lug 54. The opposite 'end of the rod 53 is pivotally attached'to one end of a lever 52 which is secured to a rock shaft 51k mounted for oscillation in the casing 1 of the machine. To the opposite end of the lever 52 is pivotally attached one end of a link 50, the opposite end of which is pivotally connected to one end of a Vit lever 49, which is pivotally mounted on the end of the shaft 2,3. vThe opposite end of the lever 49 is provided with a rotatably mounted `clam rollerv 48 which engages a cam 47-46 formed on-theslde face of the wheel 26. The reekshaft 51 is provided with suitable arms 51* to which the discharge gate 12 is secured. A pivoted dirt removal gate 56 is provided in the rear wall ef the easing 1 in the usual manner.A` Y

.As illustrated in each ofthe above mentioned patents, the casing 1 is provided with the usual dust exhaust fan', not showin in the present drawings.

The operation of the machine is similar to thatdescribed in the above mentioned patents, and as the wheel 2 6 is rotated the cam roller 48 rides intothe loy'v portion 46 of the cam 46-47, the Weight of the discharge gate 12 causes the same to open, rocking the sha-ft 51 and through the lever 52, rod 53, collar 53 and lug 54, causes the valve 55 to be opened. Obviously when the high portion 47 of thec'am 46-47 engages the 'cam roller 48 the gate 12 and valve 55 are again closed.

One object of the present invention is to make the' casing around the discharge gate 12 dust proof when the machine is beating the fibers, Y i Another object of the invention is to provide meansfo'r keeping the upper screen segment 6 clear of dirt and to prevent clogging thereof, the dirt being removed from the casingV l'by any suitable exhausting means such as thefans illustrated in the above' men.- tinedpatents@ Another obieetof the invention is to' prof vide nevel means for reciprocating the, screen @leaner everithe said screen., f

f tillanetiwr Qbieet of. the-invention is t0 Se construct the @concret-insiemi: ai the drum and wine-,ss will permit ef their beine Placed Closertogethe'r to canse a ,finer shredf ding Qi the fibesandt the' saine timeretain the necessary. 'Strength to' permit of such sfllreddiligofthe bers Withdtf breaking the teeth ist pissing of the Casing around the and paralleling the opposite ends of the gate 12 I secure a strip 60, which is provided on its under side With a concave 61, in which is secured a resilient tube 62, against which the gate 12 is pressed when in its closed P position, the tube 62 being slightly collapsed thereby and consequently effectively scaling the casing at these places. The transversely extending free edge of the gate l2 is adapted to contact with the under side of a cross beam 63 of the machine, and a sealing bar 64 is adapted to engage both the gate 12 and the beam 63, being provided with av resilient pad 65 which lis tightly pressed into thc corner formed by the adjoining surfaces `oi the gate l2 and beam 63.

The sealing bar 64 is adapted to be swung into and out of sealing position by the rock Shaft 51, on one end of which is secured a lever 66 having a link 67 pivotally attached to its free end. Secured in and extending latcrall.1 from one side of the link 67 is a stud 68 which projects into an elongated slot 69, formed in a lever 70 which is secured to one end oi a transversely extending shaft 71. The shaft 71 is rotatably mounted in bearings secured to the casing 1 and is provided with curved arms 72, the free ends of which are secured to the sealing bar 64.

As the shaft 51 is rocked to open the gate 12. the sealing bar 64 is moved out of its sealing position by means of thc lever 66 on the shaft 5l. the link 67 thereon and the stud 68 sliding in the slot 69 of the lever 70. which rocks the shaft 71 and thereby moves the sealing bar 64 outward and in advance 'of the gate 12. Obviously when the shaft 5 1 is rocked to close the gate the scaling bar 64 is moved into sealing position immediately after the closing of the gate or simultaneously therewith. If desired. the scaling bar 64 may be dispensed with and replaced by a resilient tube 74. sec Fig. 8. through which passes a rod 73, the ends of which are secured to the beam 63 in any suitable manner. Obviously when the gate 12 is moved to its closed position, the transversely extending free edge thereof will contact with and slightly collapse the tube 74, effectively scaling the casing opening around the edges of the gate 12.

The means for keeping the screen' 6 clear ofdirt in orderthat the dust exhaust fan may draw the loose dustfrom the interior of tho drum Chamber therethrough consists of a rotary brush 75 mounted on a shaft 7 6 which extends across the entire machine and passes through curved openings 77 and 7S fori'ned in the side Walls 58nnd 59 of the easing 1. The arcs ofthe curved slots or openings' 77 and 78 arej struck from a point coincident with the center of rotation of the shaft 2 and are concentric with the curve of the screen 6 which is vlikewise struck fronithe same point, thus, when the brush is reciprocated along the lil() 1,7ss,eee

screen 6 it maintains contact therewith at all times. The brush is rotated by means of a belt 79 passing' around a pulley 8O secured to the shaft 2 and a pulley 81 secured to one end of the shaft 76. The shaft 76 is rotatably mounted in bearing blocks 82 and 83 slidably mounted and suitably guided in the curved slots 77 and 78 formed in the side Walls 58 and 59 of the casing l.

Reciprocation of the continuously rotating cleaning brush 7 5 is effected by means of links 84 and 85 pivotally mounted at one end on the shaft 76, and at the opposite end on crank arms 86 and 87. The crank arm 86 is secured to a disc 89 which is fastened on one end of a transversely extending shaft 90 rotatably mounted in the side Walls of the casing` 1. The crank arm 87 is secured to a ratchet Wheel 91, which is also secured to the shaft 90, and

is adapted to be engaged and rotated in intermittent steps by a pavvl 92 pivotally attached to the valve 55, so that upon each opening of the said valve 55 the pawl 92 Will rotate the ratchet Wheel 91 a part of a complete cycle,

.i consequently rotating the shaft 9() a like amount, and through the crank arms 86 and 87 and links 84 and 85 the bearingl blocks 82 and 88 are moved in their slots 77 and 78 and the brush 75 consequently moved along' `the screen 6. The crank arms 86 and 87 are slotted as at 9B, providing adjustment for the pivot studs 94 by means of which the links 84 and 85 are operatively attached to the said crank arms. A spring' 95 holds the pawl 92 in engagement with the ratchet Wheel 91 and permits the pavvl to move relative to the said ratchet Wheel when the valve 55 is moving to its closed position.

The teeth 4 and 5, of the drum and casing respectively, to effectively tear or shred the fibers must necessarily be of rugged construction and heretofore it has been the custom to make these teeth of symmetrical pyramidal form which necessitated a Wide spacing of the teeth and consequently preventingr fine shred ding ofthe fibers. 1n order to space the teeth closer together and thereby obtain a finer shredding of the fibers but still retain the requisite rugged construction, I have formed the teeth in the manner illustrated in Fig. 7,

being oblong in cross section. The teeth are positioned With their longer sides 96 extending circumferentially of the drum 8 and parallel to each other, and with their narrower sides 97 in alignment on a plane extending transversely of the machine.

Each tooth is provided With a square shank 98 at the base thereof from which extends a threaded stem 99. Squared apertures 100 are formed in the drum arms, in the beam 63, and in the other supports 101 for the stationary teeth 5, for the reception of the squared Shanks 98 of the respective teeth 4 and 5, suitable nuts 102 being applied to the threaded stems 99 of the teeth for retaining them in position.

I claim:

1. In a Willow, the combination of a casing; a rotatable drum; a shaft for supporting and rotating said drum; a housing' for said drum formed Within said casing and provided with a curved and perforated Wall concentric With said shaft and said drum; a rotatable brush engaging said perforated Wall and adapted for lateral movement over said perforated Wall; a shaft for supporting` and rotating said brush; journal blocks for said brush shaft located in the respective side Walls of said casing, said side Walls having arcuate guide slots formed therein concentric with said curved and perforated Wall and adapted to receive said journal blocks for permitting lateral movement of said brush; a pulley on each of said shafts operatively connected by a driving belt for rotating said brush; and means for effecting lateral movement of the brush over said perforated Wall.

2. In a Willow, the combination of a casing; a rotatable drum; a shaft for supporting and rotating' said drum; a housing for said drum formed Within said casing and pro vided 'With a perforated wall; an air valve in said casing; means for operating said air valve; a rotatable brush in contact with said perforated wall; means on said shaft for continuously rotating said brush; and means operable by said air valve for laterally moving said brush over said perforated Wall.

3. In a Willow, the combination of a casing; a rotatable drum; a shaft for supporting and rotating said drum; a housing for said drum formed Within the casing and provided With a perforated Wall; an air valve in said casing; means for operating said air valve; a rotatable brush in contact with said perforated Wall; a shaft for supporting and rotating said brush; means for rotating said brush shaft; means for laterally moving' said brush over said perforated Wall comprising a transversely extending shaft; crank arms on said transverse shaft; links connectingl said crank arms With said brush shaft; a ratchet Wheel on said transverse shaft; and a pavvl on said air valve adapted to engage and operate said ratchet Wheel when said air valve is operated.

CHARLES SCHOFIELD. 

